Media Release: November 27, 2013

References:             Rosalinda C. Tablang     

                     President, Samahang Operasyong Sagip

                      Darby Santiago, M.D.

                      Convenor, Samahang Operasyong Sagip

                      0927-9259413 / (+632) 929-8109

Health disaster group: All is not yet well -- epidemic may soon take over affected communities; call for comprehensive rehabilitation plan

(Philippines) – In its press conference today, disaster health group Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) criticized the government anew for its inefficiency and inept leadership in responding to Yolanda’s backwash after seeing for themselves the concrete situation of the super typhoon aftermath and its survivors.

Returning from a five-day medical and relief missions in Western and Eastern Samar, the 40-staff team of SOS volunteers reported that massive economic dislocation is experienced in the fourteen (14) barangays of Hernani and Gen. McArthur of Easter Samar and Basey of Western Samar.

Rosalinda C. Tablang, president of SOS said that the main sources of livelihood were gone.  The strong floods swept away or destroyed fishing boats, felled coconut trees, and submerged crops. 

“The people are left with nothing.  It’s been nineteen (19) days since the disaster and the survivors see no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Based on stories from some barangay officials, Tablang said it is “not clear” what the local and national government is planning for the rehabilitation of communities.  “As to how long the makeshift tents in Brgy. Batang in Hernani Eastern Samar will stand to provide shelter to the survivors, nobody knows.  No serious government aid or rehabilitation plan is apparent,” Tablang lamented.

Meanwhile, SOS convenor and medical doctor Darby Santiago warned that another surge of disaster might hit the distraught villages.  “Because of poor sanitation, lack of clean water sources, and absence of latrines, cholera epidemic may soon take over the affected families if immediate health intervention is further delayed,” Santiago shared.

He said that the people’s battle to survive is not yet over.  Epidemics could soon arise if government health authorities do not act soon. 

The SOS medical team was composed of nine (9) medical doctors with different specializations, fifteen (15) nurses, two (2) medical interns, and four (4) health workers.  They served more than 1,000 patients.  The people’s medical conditions ranged from upper respiratory tract infections, hypertension, arthritis, error of refraction, suspected primary tuberculosis, diarrhea, musculo-skeletal pain, and urinary tract infections.  Some obstetric cases were also seen by the OB Gyn doctor of the group.

SOS also slammed the Department of Social Work and Development’s (DSWD) pronouncement to end the food relief provision in December and implement the “cash-for-work” and “food-for-work” program for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda.  Tablang cited an interview aired by a news program to a woman who said she is taking part in the DSWD repacking of relief goods in a DSWD managed warehouse because she hopes to take home 6 kilos of rice given to volunteers like her.  The woman said she needed the rice to feed her family because they only received a relief pack once since the typhoon hit.

“Despite millions of donated cash and goods to the affected populations, skewed government policies make it more difficult for the survivors to receive immediate relief.  Amidst the people’s loss and empty stomachs, the government should provide livelihood and house reconstruction support instead of making people work for donated goods,” said Tablang.

Tablang and Santiago reiterated that at the end of the day, “the survival of the affected population and rehabilitation of communities is the government’s call.”

They called on the Filipino people, as well as health professionals, to share their resources and lend their talent and time to the affected families.

Likewise, SOS demands the government to immediately and decisively (1) continue food and relief distribution; (2) act on rebuilding the lives and livelihood of the affected population; (3) address the immediate health problems and concerns of the affected families; (4) institute and implement a comprehensive disaster risk reduction program geared at building the capacities of communities in preparing and responding to disasters; (5) increase the budget for disaster risk reduction.##

The Volunteers

PACKING OF RELIEF GOODS FOR THE AFFECTED FAMILIES OF TYPHOON YOLANDA

For two days, volunteers from different walks of life came together to pack donations for 1,500 families in Basey, Western Samar and Hernani and Gen. McArthur, Eastern Samar.  These towns remained underserved by government aid since the super typhoon struck on November 8.  SOS medical and relief teams pushed to Samar today, November 20, to bring assistance.

A family relief pack consist of rice, salt, mung beans, canned goods, sugar, and dried fish 

Volunteers weigh 8 kilos of rice to be packed.  In the background are water cans to be distributed with the family packs.

A health worker ensures that the family packs are securely tied.

Volunteers from all walks of life come together at the warehouse provided by the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines

Nars ng Bayan and Health Students Action staff in action.

Community volunteers from Quezon City, Philippines.

Each blue bag holds a relief pack good for a family of 6 for 2-3 days.  

Relief packs and water cans for the affected families in Samar.

Community Health Workers from Pasig join in solidarity by packing dried fish to be included in the relief packs.

SOS volunteers to conduct medical and relief mission in Eastern Samar

When Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) signaled the alarm to help the people of Samar, scores of volunteers from different fields enlisted to take their part in the national and international effort to aid the survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Basing from reports that some towns in Eastern and Western Samar are still unreached by government aid as of this writing, the SOS, in coordination with its partners in Samar Island, identified three (3) areas to bring immediate relief and medical aid: General McArthur and Hernani in Eastern Samar and, Basey in Western Samar. SOS teams will be leaving for Samar on November 20 and stay on until the 25th.

“Despite the propensity of damage and loss to lives, adequate government aid has not reached the peoples of these three towns,” said Rosalinda C. Tablang, president of SOS.  She added that inefficiency and bureaucratic processes has “gotten in the way of delivering food and medicines that are urgently needed” in these towns among others.

Tablang shared that their medical and relief delivery teams plan to distribute relief packs and conduct medical and minor surgery services among the affected families and individuals in said towns.  They hope to bring relief and medical aid to more than 1,500 families there.

The medical team is composed of 10 medical doctors from different specialties, registered nurses, and health workers.  The relief delivery team on the other hand is composed of volunteers from Manila, representatives of health NGOs and a journalist and private group Samahan ng mga Litratista sa Rizal (SLR Camera Club).  Medico International, a German-based NGO will also be joining the relief and medical mission.

SOS, established in 1990 as a response to the effects of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, said that the mission will only be the first among several efforts that they will do to help the people of Samar.

“With this initial visit, we also hope to draw up the master plan for the rehabilitation of the said communities in the months to come.  Much will be based on the initial assessment from the ground,” Tablang said.

“What SOS and its volunteers do is to bring aid to the people from the people which will help them carry on with what is left.  However, apart from bringing aid, the task of rebuilding communities anew lies in the hand of the state because it is their primary responsibility and they have all the resources to realize the rebuilding program.  But this requires resolve and political will.  Unfortunately, the government lacks that,” Tablang ended.

Contact:
Rosalinda C. Tablang - 0927-9259413 | (+632)929-8109

Yolanda Aftermath is a Defining Moment for the Aquino Administration

Media Release 
14 November 2013

Reference: Rosalinda C. Tablang – 0927-9259413 / (+632) 929-8109
President, Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS)


It’s all too obvious, PNoy’s cabinet is working overtime in glossing over the truth about the real situation in Typhoon Yolanda-ravaged regions to cover up for the Philippine government’s incapacity and inefficiency in preparing and responding to the worst disaster to hit the nation yet.

This is Samahang Operasyong Sagip’s (SOS) analysis to the all too many parrots (read: cabinet members)singing one song in defense of PNoy’s inadequacy to respond to millions of affected populations.

SOS president Rosalinda C. Tablang said that it is too immature of the government to use the argument that “nobody expected the effect to be of this magnitude.” Hence, the justification for the snail-paced and bureaucratic response.

“In a disaster situation like this, the national government is the last entity that we need to hear appalled by the density of the aftermath,” Tablang responded.

She specified that it is the national government’s task to “prepare for the worst and have all contingencies on board” because weather authorities and media groups have been warning of Typhoon Yolanda’s strength days before it hit the Philippine soil.

Tablang also slammed Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras for saying “I don’t think it is an acid test of this administration. This is an acid test of Filipino people. How well we handle this crisis will matter a lot. Yes, there will be challenges but we will move on.”

“To say that this is not an acid test for the Aquino administration is blatant denial of the truth. PNoy’s government has been through typhoons Sendong, Pablo, and habagat and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the Visayas. He has gone through all of these disasters with the same inefficiency as what is seen in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda,” she added.

Whether they like it or not, this is a defining moment of the Aquino administration, Tablang said.

“We would like to remind the Aquino government that what the survivors need are food, water, shelter, sincere and concrete assurance and not empty promises,” Tablang ended.##

Flooding in the Metro, not the poor people’s fault – Samahang Operasyong Sagip

The government’s lack of comprehensive plan to solve flooding to including the unabated cutting down of forest trees, lack of flood defenses or control and most importantly, disaster preparedness and failure to address the root causes of people’s vulnerability to the effects of disaster, not the poor people, are the reasons why almost a hundred people died and thousands more were displaced from their homes because of “Habagat”.

This was Samahang Operasyong Sagip’s (SOS) reaction on the “typical victim-blaming” attitude of the government on the massive flooding caused by the southwest monsoon that badly hit Luzon and affected  89,114 families, left behind 92 people dead, destroyed thousands of homes and damaged P616 million worth of crops and infrastructure.

Christ Ian Mostrales, a registered nurse and coordinator of SOS said that Mr. Aquino should deeply look into the reasons why millions of Filipinos remain vulnerable to the effects of disasters year in and year out.  He stressed that “political and economic disenfranchisement further push the majority poor” into situations and places that put their lives and limbs at risk. 

Instead of blaming the poor for the flood, Mostrales said that Mr. Aquino should review his previous decision on the cancellation of 19 projects under the “Post Ondoy and Pepeng Short-Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project” a few months after he assumed office in 2010.  The project sought to repair damaged flood control facilities in Luzon that were ravaged by the two typhoons.  In the absence of a better blueprint for flood solution, Mostrales said that the administration even cancelled the P18.7 billion Laguna Lake dredging project which aimed to permanently solve the flooding in Laguna and adjacent provinces and cities.  Earlier this year, around 79 percent of the P7.5 billion Quick Reaction Calamity Fund was already spent – leaving only P1.6 billion for the typhoons that are expected to hit the Philippines this year. Government allotment for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and rehabilitation has had meager share in the national budget.

In exchange for these long-term solutions, the Aquino government resorted to stop gap solutions like the clearing of waterways and drainage systems of all makeshift structures that block them – with DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson saying “even going to the extent of blowing up structures that block waterways to ease flooding”.  

Mostrales reiterated that the statement is insensitive especially considering that most families whose houses have been demolished in Damayang Lagi, Quezon City and Isla Puting Bato in Tondo Manila experienced a double whammy when their new homes were ravaged by floods.  The “illegal structures” of urban poor families are not the main problem why there is flooding and demolishing these structures will not solve the problem of flooding and congestion. 

“Who would want to live in dirty esteros, landslide-prone areas, river side, break waters, or shorelines if these people were properly employed, earning a livable wage, or were not displaced from their lands in the countryside because of large scale mining and land-grabbing?” 

“The Philippines experience an average of twenty tropical cyclones per year.  Hence, the government should focus more in long-term structural enhancements and more importantly, capacitate the people by providing adequate social services and equal economic and political opportunities to mitigate the adverse effects of disasters,” Mostrales ended.

SOS is a network of organizations, volunteer health workers, professionals and students that aim to render assistance to disaster victims through various responses such as disaster preparedness and mitigation initiatives, relief and medical missions and post disaster rehabilitation efforts.  It was formed in the early 1990s in response to the big earthquake and lahar flows of Mt. Pinatubo. ##

Reference:         

Christ Ian Mostrales – 0923-1016178 / (+632) 929-8109

Spokesperson/Coordinator, SOS

 

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Once again SOS Samahang Operayong Sagip is appealling for ur help. Hundreds of Families in NCR are now displaced due to continous and Heavy rain. Any help.... FOOD, Clothings, Medicines are welcomed. Volunteers for relief and Medical Mission are also needed.

For Cash Donations, please send it through the following bank account:

Account name: Samahang Operasyong Sagip, Inc.

Metro Bank
Savings Account # 636-3-63608747-6
Swift Code: MBTCPHMM
Metrobank-Examiner Quezon Avenue Branch,
1517 Ave Maria Bldg, Quezon City, Philippines

Pls Call or Txt Ian CP# 09231016178 for details

thanks you...

‎

TO ALL SOS MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

February 10, 2012

To all our Volunteer and Members


Dear Friend’s of SOS

Samahang Operasyong Sagip (SOS) with Balsa Mindanao or Bulig Alang sa Mindanao is a citizen-led Mindanao wide formation responding to the crisis brought about by typhoon ‘sendong’ carrying out humanitarian assistance and environmental advocacy to Northern Mindanao. The multi-sectoral and interfaith group has already conducted its 3rd wave of relief, medical, psychosocial and documentation services especially to the hardest hit and less served communities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.

Community Based Health Services – Northern Mindanao Region (CBHS-NMR) has led the medical team in providing needed health services in the affected communities in Cagayan de Oro City (CDO). Balsa Mindanao’s third wave of medical missions in CDO was conducted from January 13 – 16, 2012. Areas served were affected families at the evacuation centers at the Agusan Elementary School and Brgy. Indahag, and at the affected communities at Sta. Cruz, Brgy. Consolacion, Villa Angela, Brgy. Balulang, and Tambo, Brgy, Macasandig. These medical missions have served a total of 577 individuals.

But much remains to be done. The next phase, rehabilitation and reconstruction, is a long way process that entails a comprehensive and participatory course of action. Crucial is the role of the victims and survivors themselves.

CBHS-NMR’s assessment of the health needs of the affected families in the evacuation centers has revealed that most medical aid rendered were mostly curative, thus only addresses immediate health concerns. In this regard, CBHS-NMR aims to strengthen the capacities of communities on skills that promote health and prevent disease. Specifically, we intend to conduct health education activities in the evacuation centers and distribute hygiene/first aid kits. Listed below are the dates, target beneficiaries, and the contents of the kits.



DATE AREA BENEFICIARIES
Feb. 17 Brgy. Agusan Evacuation Center 64 families
Sitio Pita, Brgy. Bonbon 80 families
Feb. 18 Tibasak, Brgy. Macasandig 401 families
Mandumol, Brgy. Macasandig 113 familes
Buena Oro 26 families
Brgy. Indahag 57 families







In this regard, we are once again asking for your urgent support for this mission. We would like to solicit the following types and quantity of medicines for our medical kits.


Target Quantity Item Details
750 pcs. Hydrogen Peroxide (30 ml)
750 pcs. Isopropyl Alcohol (60 ml)
750 pcs. Cotton
750 pcs. Povidone Iodine (30 ml)
1500 pcs Sterile OS (4 x 4 inches)
750 pcs. Plaster
1500 pcs. Oresol Packs
150 boxes Paracetamol 500 mg tablets
150 boxes Aluminum Magnesium
150 Mefenamic Acid
750 pcs. Liniment (60 ml)
750 pcs. Skin Ointment




Yours Sincerely,




Ms. Rosalinda Tablang




Christ Ian Mostrales, R.M., R.N.
SOS Coordinator